Abstract: A system and method are provided for determining an ethanol content of a fuel that is part of a fuel and air mixture combusted within an internal combustion engine. A pressure characteristic of a fuel rail is monitored during operation of the engine. At least one of an effective bulk modulus of the fuel and a pressure perturbation signature is determined based on the pressure characteristic. The ethanol content is determined based on the at least one of the effective bulk modulus and the pressure perturbation signature.

Abstract: A method and a device for exciting pressure fluctuations in a fuel supply system of an internal combustion engine are provided, which in turn enable a determination of the sound velocity of the fuel. A quantity that characterizes the pressure in a fuel storage device or a fuel line is evaluated. In at least one operating state of the internal combustion engine, a natural oscillation of the fuel in the fuel storage device or the fuel line is excited.

Abstract: A device and a method for detecting the fuel quality in an internal combustion engine, especially a Diesel internal combustion engine. At particular operating states, in at least one cylinder, a start of injection is changed based on a starting value, and it is checked whether combustion takes place. Based on whether a combustion takes place or not, a combustion limit is ascertained and used as a measure for the quality of the fuel.

Abstract: A fuel pressure sensor diagnosing device for diagnosing a fuel pressure sensor for detecting pressure in a common rail in which a high-pressure fuel to be supplied to an engine is accumulated, the device comprising: fuel temperature detection means for detecting fuel temperature; and failure determination means, provided with the fuel temperature detection means for detecting fuel temperature via subsequent to stopping of the engine, for obtaining a resting and stabilization time between when the pressure in the common rail drops and when the pressure stabilizes on the basis of this detected fuel temperature, detecting a stabilized fuel pressure via the fuel pressure sensor subsequent to lapse of the resting and stabilization time, and determining a failure of the fuel pressure sensor when the detected stabilized fuel pressure exceeds a predetermined upper limit threshold value or is less than a predetermined lower limit threshold value.

Abstract: A throttle control cartridge has a circuit board carrying a Hall-effect sensor, the position of which is fixed in a housing carrying a cam. A shaft carrying a magnet is rotatably and translatably disposed with respect to the housing and carries a cam follower that engages the cam and translates the shaft with respect to the housing when the shaft is rotated with respect to the housing in at least one of two opposed angular directions. The cam and the cam follower have at least first and second pairs of cam surfaces in which a first cam surface is disposed at a different cam or helix angle then the second cam surface. A redundant stop is cooperatively formed between the cam follower and splines on the shaft to limit axial translation of the cam follower in one direction of rotation of the shaft relative to the housing.